Holy Hour and Help for Victims of Hurricane Harvey

The tragedy of Hurricane Harvey is causing tremendous suffering for our brothers and sisters on the Gulf Coast. Families are seeking shelter, people are searching for loved ones, emergency workers are serving tirelessly, and survivors are trying to find hope for the future.

This situation calls for a response on our part.

The first and most basic response is prayer. I encourage all of our people to pray daily for all those impacted by this hurricane. I would also like to invite people and parishes to take part in a Holy Hour for Victims of Hurricane Harvey, to take place at 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 7, 2017, in Catholic churches around the state of Texas. I encourage parish churches to ring their church bells for five minutes before 7:00 pm on that evening, and then to offer at 7:00 pm the opportunity for people to gather in the church for a Holy Hour in solidarity with those who are suffering so deeply because of this storm.

Another important response is to give generously to help our brothers and sisters with their practical needs. In all our churches we will take up a special collection during the weekend Masses of September 2-3, 2017, to assist those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Also, for those who would like to help further, we have listed a variety of opportunities to give on the Hurricane Harvey section of our diocesan website,
sanangelodiocese.org For those parishes that would like to consider the possibility of long-term twinning with one of the parishes hit by the hurricane, please indicate your interest by contacting my assistant Lupe Castillo at
lcastillo@sanangelodiocese.org or
325-651-7500.

Thank you for your heartfelt response.

"O Lord, give strength to those who struggle to carry on, and move us with your compassion, that we may respond generously to our brothers and sisters in their time of need. Amen."